Ayra Starr Names Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Rema as Her Afrobeats ‘Big Three’

Grammy-nominated Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, widely known as Ayra Starr, has revealed the three Afrobeats artistes she personally considers the most influential.

Speaking during a recent interview on HOT 97, the singer was asked to mention her personal “big three” in the Afrobeats scene.

Ayra Starr listed Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Rema as the artistes she holds in highest regard.

“My big three, I would say Tiwa Savage obviously, Wiz and Rema,” she said. “My solid big three.”

Her choice adds a fresh perspective to the long-standing debate about Afrobeats’ so-called “big three,” a title many fans traditionally associate with Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy.

The conversation has remained a major topic among music lovers for years. While some fans use the term to rank influence and global success, others argue that it overlooks several other artistes who have played important roles in shaping the genre.

Tiwa Savage also weighed in on the discussion in September 2025, saying Afrobeats is too broad and diverse to be narrowed down to just three names.

“Not ‘f*ck them’ but the narrative of the big three. F that narrative, because this is a continent with so many artistes, and we keep reducing it to just three every time,” she said.

She pointed out that several other musicians, including Yemi Alade, Flavour, Asake, Tems and Rema, have made significant contributions to the growth of the genre but are often left out of the conversation.

According to Savage, the continued focus on a few artistes may largely be due to the strength and activity of their fan bases.

“They have a very strong fan base. Their fan bases are active, I guess that’s why,” she added.